The sweltering heat of the sun these days is anything but pleasant; the heat is so intense that even the walls [from the inside of some rooms] are not spared. This kind of heat could make a sun-tanning freak have a rethink. The heat is certainly a consequence of the high intensity of sun as witnessed in different states. For instance, the approximate average temperature over the past few days in Lagos has been 34 degrees celsius; Kano 39; Abuja 37 and Rivers 32.

Despite this searing heat, the sun does have some desirable advantages it offers to the human. Scientists have found out that the sun can help to improve mood; alleviate stress and also provide us with Vitamin D which is one of the key elements responsible for the formation of strong bones.

But then, how much sun is too much for our well-being? – talk about the negative effects of the sun. Studies have shown that prolonged exposure of human beings to a temperature of about 32-40oc can cause heat exhaustion, which is definitely bad for human health. Heat exhaustion brings about profuse sweating, nausea, headache, a feeling of fatigue, dizziness and could even make an affected person to pass out. Heat stroke is another heat related illness that can occur when the body is exposed to a temperature of 40oC upwards for a long time. It causes its sufferers to experience a bout of confused and uncoordinated state of mind, seizures, low blood pressure and so on.

Furthermore, the long term exposure of the human body to extreme temperature can also cause other illnesses/disorders such as heat cramps, heat rashes, sunburn, accelerated ageing and skin cancer. Again, in some instances excessive heat can damage some internal organs [such as the kidney, brain, heart, lungs and liver] and also destabilize the body’s metabolic and physiological setup.

Safety tips
Since man has not been endowed with the ability to regulate the intensity of the sun, it is only logical that we seek out ways of protecting ourselves from the sun. Well, you need not be told that this is not a season for heavy clothing – light clothing apparels are ideal for this season. However, in addition to that, you should take note of the following safety tips:

• Wear sunglasses
  Sunglasses will help to block off ultraviolet rays from directly hitting your eyes thus saving your sight organ from the negative impact of the sun. But before settling for any sunglasses to use during this period, you should take cognizance of the sun protection factor (SPF) – sunglasses with SPF rating of 30 and above are the best bet. Besides wearing sunglasses, you can also find a sunhat and an umbrella quite handy.

• Stay hydrated
  Drinking water or any clear fluid [with electrolytes] is very essential to help cool the internal organs and keep the body from getting dehydrated. One thing you need to know is that you do not have to be thirsty before reaching out for a glass of water to drink in extreme temperatures.

• Take a cool shower
  If you can afford a shower at regular intervals - barring a busy schedule- you should not hesitate. This could prevent sunburn, heat rash and the build-up of heat that can eventually lead to heat stroke.

• Apply sunscreen
  Sunscreens come in form of lotions or gels, and they help to protect the skin from sunburn; wrinkling fast and also prevents skin cancers. However, as with sunglasses, the SPF rating of sunscreens should also be considered before making a purchase.

On a final note, irrespective of how ‘religious’ you may be at adhering to the tips above, it is advisable that you stay out of the sun when you can – you should make use of the shades around you or stay in air-conditioned [or well-ventilated] room. And one more thing; do not engage in workouts or physical activities that are too demanding.

The Champions League advances into the quarter-final round with some rather mouth-watering matchups as eight of Europe's best team will be battling for the four (4) semi-final spots as they fixate an eye on the trophy.
The draw brings up two English Premier League sides- Liverpool and Manchester City- up against each other for the first time in 7 years- the last all-English quarter-final match in the competition was between Chelsea and Manchester United in 2011. Manchester City has certainly been one of the deadliest team in Europe this season but Liverpool could yet prove to be a spoiler once again. The game is arguably the most anticipated match of the quarter-final round.

Looking at the other fixtures; the draw seems to have offered Juventus the opportunity to wage a vendetta against Real Madrid who claimed the trophy at their expense enroute to winning the title for the second time in succession- though the Italian side does have superior head-to-head wins over the Galacticos in the Champions League; emerging victorious on four (4) different occasions compared to Real Madrid's two (2) wins. To complete the quarter-final fixtures; the battle royale between La Liga sides and Serie A sides continues as Barcelona play hosts to Roma while Sevilla takes on Bayern Munich for a place in the semi-finals- a feat that Sevilla will be aiming to achieve for the first time.

The Fixtures in Full
First Leg
April 3, 2018
Sevilla Vs Bayern Munich
Juventus Vs Real Madrid

April 4, 2018
Barcelona Vs Roma
Liverpool Vs Manchester City

Second Leg
April 10, 2018
Roma Vs Barcelona
Manchester City Vs Liverpool

April 11, 2018
Bayern Munich Vs Sevilla
Real Madrid Vs Juventus

Osamu Tsukimori TOKYO (Reuters)

Oil prices were set to fall this week, with both benchmarks dropping slightly on Friday, on concerns among investors about rising supply from the U.S. and other nations threatening to undermine efforts by OPEC and other producers to tighten the market.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil futures for April delivery fell 3 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $61.16 a barrel at 0354 GMT, after settling up 23 cents on Thursday. WTI is set to fall 1.4 percent this week, reversing the previous week’s 1.3 percent gain.

Brent crude futures trading in London fell 7 cents to $65.05 a barrel after settling up 23 cents. Brent is down 0.7 percent for the week.

Several reports this week renewed investor focus on the potential for rising supply to overwhelm the expected gains in crude demand for 2018.

On Thursday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said global oil supply increased in February by 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) from a year ago to 97.9 million barrels per day.

The IEA also said supply from producers outside of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), led by the United States, will grow by 1.8 million bpd this year versus an increase of 760,000 bpd last year.

The supply increase is more than the IEA’s expected demand growth forecast for this year of 1.5 million bpd.

The agency also reported that commercial oil inventories in industrialized nations rose in January for the first time in seven months.

That directly undermines the efforts of producers led by OPEC and Russia, the world’s biggest oil producer, to cut supply in order to reduce global stockpiles.

“The fact that the inventories rose despite intensifying output curbs led by OPEC shows how much non-OPEC supply has risen,” said Tomomichi Akuta, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting in Tokyo.

“Crude prices have been checked by the increase in U.S. supply.”

OPEC and other producers began cutting supply in January 2017 to erase a global crude glut that had built up since 2014.

On Wednesday, the U.S. government reported that crude stockpiles there increased by a more-than-expected 5 million barrels, rising for a third straight week.

Oil prices got scant support from the equities market. Asian stocks declined on Friday, following a four-day losing streak in the S&P 500 a day earlier, amid concerns about more changes in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Recently, crude futures have moved in sync with equities.

SOURCE: Reuters

Stephen Hawking, who sought to explain some of the most complicated questions of life while working under the shadow of a likely premature death, has died at 76.

He died peacefully at his home in the British university city of Cambridge in the early hours of Wednesday.

“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today,” his children Lucy, Robert and Tim said in a statement.

Hawking’s formidable mind probed the very limits of human understanding both in the vastness of space and in the bizarre sub-molecular world of quantum theory, which he said could predict what happens at the beginning and end of time.

His work ranged from the origins of the universe, through the tantalizing prospect of time travel to the mysteries of space’s all-consuming black holes.

“He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years,” his family said. “His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humor inspired people across the world.”

The power of his intellect contrasted cruelly with the weakness of his body, ravaged by the wasting motor neuron disease he developed at the age of 21.

Hawking was confined for most of his life to a wheelchair. As his condition worsened, he had to resort to speaking through a voice synthesizer and communicating by moving his eyebrows.

The disease spurred him to work harder but also contributed to the collapse of his two marriages, he wrote in a 2013 memoir “My Brief History.”

In the book he related how he was first diagnosed: “I felt it was very unfair - why should this happen to me,” he wrote.

“At the time, I thought my life was over and that I would never realize the potential I felt I had. But now, 50 years later, I can be quietly satisfied with my life.”

Hawking shot to international fame after the 1988 publication of ““A Brief History of Time”, one of the most complex books ever to achieve mass appeal, which stayed on the Sunday Times best-sellers list for no fewer than 237 weeks.

He said he wrote the book to convey his own excitement over recent discoveries about the universe.

“”My original aim was to write a book that would sell on airport bookstalls,” he told reporters at the time. ““In order to make sure it was understandable I tried the book out on my nurses. I think they understood most of it.”

He was particularly proud that the book contains only one mathematical equation - relativity’s famous E=MC squared.

“We have lost a colossal mind and a wonderful spirit,” said Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. “Rest in peace, Stephen Hawking.”

Hawking’s popular recognition became such that he appeared as himself on the television show “Star Trek: Next Generation” and his cartoon caricature appeared on “The Simpsons”.

A 2014 film, The Theory of Everything, with Eddie Redmayne playing Hawking, charted the onset of his illness and his early life as the brilliant student grappling with black holes and the concept of time.

Source: Reuters

Maybe on another day, this article would have been titled: ‘the many sins of the IGP’- that should serve as a pointer to the direction this write-up is tilting- but permit me to stick with that which I have chosen

Firstly, the Nigeria Police Force has faced a lot of backlash from the Nigerian populace at various times, and most of these criticisms have been as a result of the slipups perceivable from the way officers of the NPF carry out their activities. Recall the issues that led to the #ENDSARSNOW# crusade; how the spokesman of the NPF, Jimoh Moshood [while being interviewed on a national TV] called a sitting governor, ‘a drowning man’ amongst other unprincipled conducts.

However, before I get wholly engrossed with the general affairs of the police force, let me try to remain on track [by staying in line with the objective of this very discourse]. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris might have scored good remarks in some quarters but there is no denying the fact that he has been in the office for the wrong reason(s) of late. To start with, his handling of the massacres perpetrated by the terrorist herdsmen across different states in the north- especially Benue- does not speak well of his reputation as the chief law enforcement officer of a nation such as ours. Aside having men on ground, shouldn’t there have been modalities in place to help curtail future occurrences [after the incident that had 73 innocent indigenes of Benue killed]? The perpetrators of that evil act have gone on to kill more persons thus causing panic in the hearts of citizens amidst the trails of blood, tears and sorrow left behind, and it remains to be seen how much more havoc will wreaked before the police bring things under control.
It could be argued that the IGP [as well as the Nigeria Police Force] is incapacitated to deal with a problem as ‘magnanimous’ as the terrorist herdsmen but his utterances have often reflected an iota of insensitivity or maybe lack of priority. For instance, he (the IGP) was proposing that governors of the states affected by the onslaught of the herdsmen need to establish grazing ranches before implementing anti-grazing laws, and this makes me ask: ‘ought the IGP not have known that it is not in his place to make or propose a law but to enforce it? Making such proposition only indicates either of these two things: that he lacks the wherewithal to occupy the office he is currently holding or that he is being sentimental and advancing the course of the herdsmen which is certainly not good for the credibility of the office of an IGP.

The last- or maybe latest- straw that broke the camel’s back was President Buhari’s revelation of being unaware of the IGP’s refusal to move to Benue in the wake of the violent attacks of the herdsmen on some Benue communities. Ought the IGP not have known [and/or respected] what is meant by an executive order? And that the failure to act on an executive order could jeopardize the security of the (Nigerian) state? At this point, I do not think it will be wrong to pass of no confidence on the IGP. He cannot continually do things that are against the oath of the office he holds and be left without being reprimanded. Letting such be without any form of penalty is dangerous for the security and polity of the nation as it would encourage disorderliness and nonchalant attitudes towards responsibilities among other public office holders who have the inclination to go wayward. In the light of this, Nigerians are looking up to know the President’s next line of action as it concerns addressing the IGP’s disregard and/or negligence of one of his primary assignment.

Aside the apparent reality of corruption, some other factors that affected the standings of countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) recently released by Transparency International include delayed prosecution of corrupt officials and the government's inability to map out effective anti-corruption mechanisms. These are not unfounded in the Nigerian context safe one decides to sweep the facts that are before us under the carpet. There is a high tendency to heap the blame on the executive arm of government- rightfully so in some circumstances- but the judiciary cannot be left out. The justice system in Nigeria does seem to be exhibit some sort of slagness when it comes to giving final verdicts on a number of high-profile cases; many are cases that are presently inconclusive, and some- despite the evidence of law violation- do not get to be taken to court.

To start with, the trial of kidnap honcho, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (popularly known as Evans) is rather taken too long. Evans has been arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on the 10th of June, 2017, and a final court ruling is looking still far to come by as a series of adjournment, reassignment [on the case] keeps buying the self-confessed kidnapper more time. The gaffe committed by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, in not presenting a valid proof of evidence for the murder allegation levelled against Evans could have also played a part in the protracted delay in giving a final verdict. It can be argued that the complexity of the Evans' case is not making process easy but the justice system appears to lack the fluidity to put cases to rest in quick time. It is worth noting that the Chief Justice of Nigeria has [at various points in time] charged judges to see to it that trials are speedily concluded. The rigmarole surrounding Evans looks to have given the audacity to file suits [through his counsel, Mr. Oluyinka Ogungbeje] against the police on two different occasions as he hopes to escape the wrath of the law.

Though not in the same class as Evans' case but another saga that got people talking is the one involving ex-pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina. Court proceedings on Maina's case may not have really taken flight- a situation brought about by the evasiveness of the ex-pension chief whose alleged abettors have since appeared in court- but the indictment of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) does not only create a crevice in the government's anti-corruption framework but is also a dent on the justice system in the country. Maina should be made to stand in court [like the others have done] to prove his innocence and be acquitted or get convicted and served the the appropriate punishment by the law demands.

Well, Maina's case may not even command so much attention if we are to dig the grave and unearth the several high-profile cases [involving former governors and other top public office holders] that are still pending in court, awaiting the judge's final ruling. Some of these cases are spanning 5 - 10 years and they remain stalled till this very day.

For any groundbreaking result to be recorded in our justice system, the judiciary has got to mop up these cases; resolving them in all fairness without any fear or favour. An anti-corruption fight without a trustworthy justice system is not different from beating a dead horse.

William Blackstone, a reputable English jurist of the 18th century, defined Law as “a rule of conduct prescribed by the supreme power in a state, commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong”. This definition connotes that a law is established to serve as a moral compass that guides the citizens of a particular state on the ways they ought to conduct themselves thereby ensuring orderliness in the society.

A law is set in place to benefit the state, and also curtail chaotic occurrences that could endanger the lives of the citizens. The purpose [for which a law is established] is however defeated without the enforcement of such law. In fact, the non-enforcement of certain laws could make them appear non-extant with those who are meant to abide by these (‘inactive’) laws not even having knowledge of them.

It is in view of the above that I wish to beam light on the enforcement of laws in Nigeria. The enforcement of laws in Nigeria has not been so impressive, I must say; day in day out, we see and hear of individuals, flouting the law in different cases, without being apprehended- a situation that has brought about the flawed perception that we are living in a society where ‘anything goes’. A common example is the rampant disregard for the law on our roads as motorists keep violating traffic laws over and again even under the nose of law enforcement agents. Is it about drivers moving their vehicles against the normal flow of traffic or those that see no reason to move in synchrony with the traffic light? And what about the abject negligence for speed limit signs and other road insignia? These are just a few among the several unlawful misconducts motorists count as ‘minor’ offences simply because the enforcement of the law has not been efficiently enacted.

The remissness exhibited by law enforcement agents in the course of carrying out their duties has been one of the major reasons why laws are being violated at an alarming rate. Moreover, in most cases of violation of traffic laws; some officials of these agencies are in the habit of collecting bribes from the lawbreakers who are let off the hook without paying the appropriate fine or punishment the offence [they had committed] warrants. The slackness and unethical conducts of some law enforcement agents have not only given prospective offenders the leeway to continuously go against the laid down precepts but also watered down the efficacy of the law, and what we now see is a state of untamed disorderliness in some instances.

Looking at it from a different angle; our poor data management culture could have also contributed to the state of affairs in the area of law enforcement. This brings me back to the faulty systems we have in Nigeria; the lapse makes it easy for serial offenders to bypass security agencies and not get caught. keeping records of offenders in a digital base will go a long way in helping law enforcement agencies keep track of the number of times they have committed a particular crime hence bringing them to book, and in effect, strengthening the hand of the law.

You must have heard of the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ a couple of times- this is one essential fact that is simply undeniable. And if there’s any medical reality where one ought to hold this statement in high regard, it will be in the area of taming chronic illnesses. This is simply because of the stubborn nature of this group of diseases; they are not easily cured, and in most cases, they can only be managed. But let me quick to say this: suffering from a chronic illness should not be viewed in the same light as being served a ‘death sentence’ as this could lead a patient into a depressive state- depression can be more damaging than the chronic illness itself.
So, let’s see the things you have got to do in order to live a healthy life and put chronic diseases in check. Before I proceed with that, I will like to say that it is probable you have heard about this before but I will be listing [and discussing about them] as a matter of emphasis.

Rest
It is recommended everyone gets up to eight (8) hours of rest every day. While rest and sleep are often used interchangeably in some instances, it is important to state [for clarity sake] that there is a difference between the two (2) terms though sleep can be taken as a form of rest. So, the hours one ought to use in resting encompasses the period of sleep- a good sleep as a matter of fact- and the break you have while at work. However, owing to the demanding nature of the corporate world, it might be difficult to make out time for a break but a little here and a little there can do one’s health a great deal of benefit. By that, I mean easing off for some minutes- say 5 minutes- every hour even without necessarily leaving the desk. Plus, it is also good to ensure that the work area is ergonomically set up.

Aerobic exercises
As you are already aware; exercises help us to stay fit. But beyond fitness, exercises can be of immense advantages in reducing the chances of one suffering a chronic illness. Aerobic exercises [which aid the supply and/or circulation of oxygen throughout the body system] are especially good for putting cancer at bay since cancerous cells have been observed to thrive more under anaerobic condition- this creates a relatively high level of alkalinity within the body hence an avenue for cancerous cells to multiply. Again, aerobic exercises help to boost the functioning of the heart, and also prevent obesity if done on a regular basis.

Healthy diet
There are certain foods one needs to cut down on in order to make sure one is in charge of his/her health and keep chronic diseases some distance away. Consumables like red meat, alcohol, sugar and foods- such as processed foods, whole milk, butter and so on- with low density lipids (LDL) i.e ‘bad cholesterol’, etc should be avoided like plague. Healthy options such as vegetables and fruits as well as foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids should form the core of one’s daily diet. Certain fruits and vegetables contain high amount of antioxidant which are very effective in fighting or preventing cancer, and also help to improve the immune system. Additionally, cigarette smoking and/or the inhalation of any form of smoke- for example from exhaust pipe, generator, etc- should not be tolerated.

As earlier emphasized; it is not that people have not heard about the aforementioned measures, the discipline to adhere to them has always been the issue. But since this is about one’s well-being- present and future- it would be really wise to start acting on these things as soon as possible. More so, bearing in mind that it is hard to find anyone suffering from a chronic illness functioning at an optimal level, it is expedient that attention to paid to one’s health while one still have it. A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has it that hundreds of millions of dollars are lost annually in Nigeria as a result of chronic illnesses. You don’t have to contribute to that figure- and no one should in an ideal world- and you can live long and in good health too but the journey must be consciously undertaken from today onward.

‘Deplorable’ is the word that readily comes to mind when one considers the state of some of the roads motorists ply on daily basis. The word may even be an understatement on sighting the level of structural degradations on these roads. These degradations- which are usually accelerated or made more profound during rainy seasons- have left some of these roads in a state of abandonment thus making a shipwreck of a route that is meant to benefit the masses. This, in effect, results in traffic congestion on certain routes as motorists are limited to the pliable routes that there are. And in situations where the damages are repaired, they are sometimes finished to a substandard quality and it takes only a few years- or months- before the roads give way again.
More disheartening is the fact that some of these bad roads have led to multiple accidents and loss of lives and it remains to be seen how long these wastes [of lives and resources] will go on for as those saddled with the responsibility of putting things right turn blind eye. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) identified bad roads as one of the three (3) causes of accidents on Nigerian roads- the others being ‘error of judgment’ and disregard for traffic regulations.

But things could have been better
About 10 years ago, I remember seeing dignitaries making their way to a conference centre around the Faculty of Engineering in the University of Lagos. After probing to know what was up in the air, I realized that an erudite scholar in person of Professor Ebenezer Meshida, has done something laudable in seeking a way to ensure the stabilization of the roads in Nigeria. In layman’s term as I understood then, his finding- or shall I say product- is such that will not make soil to dissolve in water. I later got to know that the product is called ‘Lateralite’. Further check on Professor Meshida showed that he had been carrying out his research on Nigerian roads for over twenty-five (25) years as at then; having put a particular route- which was said to have lasted over 100 years- in the UK into consideration.
What is however puzzling is the manner with which some of the politicians [in office then] whom he (Prof. Meshida) had met on the need to incorporate Lateralite into the roads, made light of the suggestion. The reason for that- as you might have guessed- was based on protecting their selfish interest.
Years have rolled by, and the state of our roads has rarely been improved upon; notwithstanding, we keep hearing of recurring expenses on infrastructural developments- of which the construction and maintenance of roads are major aspects- that do not stand the test of time.
Professor Meshida eventually got a consolation for his efforts by winning the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Prize for Science in 2008 but I sternly believe that the Professor of Engineering Geology would have taken more pride in seeing that the roads around the country are devoid of any dent or structural collapse thereby making the destabilization of our roads a thing of the past.
It is obvious that the continual existence of bad and/or degrading roads is not because of the lack of resources or manpower [to do a perfect job on them] but rather due to the failure and/or short-sightedness of some persons- who are meant to put the masses first- to do what is right.

The saying that ‘politics is a dirty game’ has always been heralded long before we came of age. The reason is probably due to the incessant politically motivated violence and killings that have been carried out in time past. But aside the spate of violence that sometimes trail political campaign, there is another twist to it, and that is the manner in which politicians get to maneuver their ways around political mechanisms principally as it concerns switching between parties. The tendency of politicians to jump from one party to another has become commonplace in our society today, and this got me thinking; giving birth to the topic of discourse- politics of jokers.

Looking through events around the 'political landscape, one must have observed that the drift is more intense when elections are approaching as politicians seek avenues where their political interest will be defended and given the needed support. It is however not unlikely to see politicians resolve to leave a certain party because of the ills perceptible in the party. To this latter set, I will like put this question forward to: do you vacate your house just because the roof is leaking? – Probably not; damage would rather be fixed than one having to move out to some other place. So, in the vein, these politicians ought to be really about the evolvement and/or development of their respective parties as a force to reckon with. As a leaking roof should not chase one out of his house, so should leaving one party for another not be the way out had it been those ‘movers’ have the party’s growth at heart; they should conscientiously work towards resolving any nagging issue.
Inasmuch as everyone has got his/her preference, it will not be in my interest to speak ill of anyone’s ambition. However, there are some salient points I will like to share about politicians’ movement jamboree in the Nigerian political arena.

A test of loyalty
Though it is not expected that any politician any public office in Nigeria trade his loyalty for any other nation but this is about his loyalty to the oath of office if he eventually gets to the seat of power. And I make bold to say that a politician’s commitment to a particular party- even without the influence of any godfather- could, in a way, serve as a pointer to how well he will perform in office. Moreover, an individual’s ability to play a role in holding his party’s structure together in one whole piece can prepare him for the bigger task- centered on national development- ahead. In other words, a politician who will leave a mark in the sands of Nigeria’s political economy must have problem-solving skill, be calculative and be ready to handle challenges- he must be a goal-getter. But the sad truth is that we rarely see these kinds of politicians around.

Quest for power over all
Another obvious reason politicians switch parties is to have a springboard from which they can jostle for power. This drive/desperation for power is often placed over the vital need to develop the nation. In this regard, most of our politicians end up presenting themselves as half-baked technocrats with no authentic plans in place to turn around the fortune of the nation. Isn’t it even startling to see how a politician who had ‘promised heaven and earth’ [upon aspiring to get into an office] take a backseat and go into oblivion with his goody bag of promises after losing an election- no contributions to national development thereafter?

Escape route
If you can’t beat them, you join them, right? But in this context, if you want to dodge the hammer, just join them. One reason why the anti-corruption war may not be won on a large scale could be due to the way some top-shots or heroes of corruption get shielded after switching allegiance to a ruling party. These join the list of those who had been indicted in cases of corruption earlier thus heaping up the load of problems anti-corruption crusaders have to deal with.

From the N36 million unaccounted for in JAMB’s office to the US$43.4 million found in a building at Ikoyi and many other incidences of embezzlement and/or financial misappropriation, the scene that has played out over and again has been that of greed and more indepthly, the lapses in the system which made it possible for the looters to thrive in their shady dealings. The system is so slack that nothing is suspected until a huge damage has been done. The JAMB scenario is just one of several cases of financial misconducts in public offices, and if not for the timely and insightful move of JAMB’s registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the pattern would have continued and all those involved in the act could have even gotten away with it. From this, one can see that the previous leadership had failed to demand accountability from those who are under it.

However, as it would be erroneous to pin corruption to public offices alone so would it be counterfactual to conclude that poor accountability- or the lack of it- is solely about financial misappropriation. A video, in which a policeman threatened to shoot a tricycle rider just because he (the rider) refused to give him the money he demanded for, was once circulated on the internet sometimes ago. Such cases are not new anyway but the thing is that had the police officer have any sense of accountability, he would have behaved in a responsible manner and uphold his allegiance to offer protection to the civil society. Again, I doubt if an employee who cherishes pleasure-hunting [while at work] ever think of the fact that he/she is engaging in a corrupt practice not to even make mention of reserving any consciousness of being accountable for his/her time.

The failure of individuals to be accountable for their actions as well as the lack of will [on the part of those in power] to painstakingly check the activities of those under them have thus far created a gulf in the ethical standards of organizations- public and private- and in effect, corruption keeps booming. This could continue for a long while if we do not take the bull by the horn to fight corruption. Plus, the citizens of this nation should [with one accord] make it a point of duty to demand accountability from their leaders.

Nevertheless, it is expedient to state here that it flows [and begins] from the top; those governing the affairs of this nation must first show themselves as men of integrity and let men see the level of their loyalty to the oath of the office they have undertaken. If those at the helms of affairs are actually desirous of development then accountability should be a major concern except they have something ulterior in mind. “The benefit f truly accountable leaders is that they are able to create effective structures where their staff (citizens) know what is expected of them, and can improve the business (nation-building) for customers (fellow citizens).”- Jane Storm

Furthermore, it needs to be said that for a stubborn and ‘epidemic’ malfeasance like corruption to be curtailed, drastic measures have to be taken. For example, public office holders- politicians in particular- should be made to declare their assets before assuming any office; failure to do so would mean relinquishing the pursuit of whatever office they are vying for- or even holding. With that in place, auditing should be done from time to time- it could be done on a quarterly basis; some technological inputs may be employed for this purpose. It is also necessary that the prosecution of those caught in the act be speedily brought to a conclusive end as we aim to ‘flush’ the system.

One may not be mistaken to say that as complex and interwoven as the Nigerian state is, so are the problems facing her multifaceted; talk about the varying degree of mismanagement, over dependence on crude oil, political haggling, insecurity issues and so on. Nonetheless, the one I am more concerned about right now is how Nigeria is so blessed but yet poor- let’s leave the economic analysis for now; record has it that about 67% of Nigeria’s populace currently live below the poverty line.

But amidst this stark reality [of our poverty level] is an ample of resources that are either wasting away or being underutilized. So much attention has been given to crude oil that one sometimes wonders whether the government has got any cognizance of the other mineral resources. Nigeria is blessed with over forty (40) solid mineral resources; though not all these resources are available in commercial quantities but we are yet to fully take advantage of the ones that are in abundant supply. And like most of the industries in Nigeria, the mining industry has been functioning at a suboptimal level for years now. A report from the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) shows that the mining industry less than 0.5% to Nigeria’s GDP.

The problem has always been the presence and/or exploration of crude oil- but why should a blessing be made to appear as a ‘curse’? - as our leaders continually seek the easy and the ‘most profitable’ way out. Whereas, it is apparent that our over-dependence is not good for the sustainability of our economy; as we have been observing over the years, a little (unfavorable) twitch in the price of oil is capable of dealing us a big blow since the economy is tip-toeing on a slippery ground soaked with ‘black gold’.
It is quite ironic [and rather appalling] that we even depend on external sources for some of the mineral resources we can produce here had we have a functional and well-oiled mining industry. I cannot help but wonder why these minerals are left buried in the ground while Nigeria keeps plunging into the murky waters of financial debts. I am not an economist and I do not intend to sound as one but I believe we need much more than crude oil to break free from debts and poverty, and eventually build a sustainable and/or thriving economy.

These minerals are scattered across different states of the Federation, and God who has blessed us with them will definitely not descend from heaven to harness them for us. So, those in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development [certainly with the assured backing of the government] must move quickly and proactively to map out strategies that will make mineral exploration more profitable for the nation.

Below, is a list of solid mineral resources and the respective states they can be found:
Abia: Copper, Iron Ore, Gold, Limestone, Laterite, Crude Oil, Phosphate, Kaolin, Feldspar, Oil Shale, Tar Sand and Gravel.
Adamawa: Iron Ore, Magnesium, Coal, Bentonite, Gypsum, Kaolin, Lignite and Uranium.
Anambra: Lead, Limestone, Crude oil, Zinc, Coal, Clay, Salt, Phosphate and Gypsum.
Akwa-Ibom: Lead, Limestone, Crude Oil, Clay, Salt, Lignite and Uranium.
Bauchi: Copper, Iron Ore, Gold, Limestone, Coal, Wolframite, Tungsten, Clay, Gypsum, Uranium, Tin Ore, Columbite and Manganese.
Bayelsa: Crude Oil, Gypsum, Lead, Limestone, Lignite and Uranium.
Benue: Iron Ore, Lead, Limestone, Coal, Clay, Salt, Marble, Gypsum, Manganese, Barite and Gemstones.
Borno: Limestone, Clay, Bentonite, Gypsum and Kaolin.
Cross-River: Gold, Lead, Crude Oil, Zinc, Mica, Tantalite, Granite, Salt, Lignite, Uranium, Manganese and Barite.
Delta: Crude Oil, Coal, Clay, Silica, Gypsum, Kaolin and Lignite.
Ebonyi: Lead, Limestone, Zinc, Salt and Chalcopyrite.
Edo: Limestone, Dolomite, coal, Clay, Bentonite, Phosphate, Gypsum, Lignite, Bitumen and Tar Sand.
Ekiti: Galena, Talc, Mica, Tantalite, Granite, Quartzite, Kaolin, Titanium and Syenite.
Enugu: Lead, Zinc and Coal.
FTC, Abuja: Gold, Lead, Dolomite, Zinc, Clay, Granite, Marble and Tin Ore.
Gombe: Copper and Gypsum.
Imo: Lead, Limestone, Crude Oil, Zinc, Coal, Salt, Phosphate, Gypsum, Lignite and Oil Shale.
Jigawa: Silica.
Kaduna: Gold, Wolframite, Tungsten, Kyanite, Talc, Tourmaline, Kaolin, Columbite, Manganese and Gemstones.
Kano: Copper, Zinc, Wolframite, Tungsten, Silver, Silica, Uranium, Columbite and Gemstones.
Katsina: Salt, Marble, Kaolin and Manganese.
Kebbi: Gold, Magnesium, Magnesite and Manganese.
Kogi: Gold, Dolomite, Galena, Coal, Talc, Mica, Tantalite, Bentonite, Quartzite, Marble, Gypsum, Kaolin, Feldspar and Columbite.
Kwara: Iron Ore, Dolomite, Galena, Coal, Mica, Tantalite, Quartzite and Marble.
Lagos: Clay, Silica and Bitumen.
Nasarawa: Copper, Iron Ore, Dolomite, Galena, Clay, Talc, Mica, Tantalite, Lithium, Tourmaline, Columbite, Manganese and Gemstones.
Niger: Gold, Lead, Zinc, Wolframite, Tungsten, Kyanite, Talc and Gravel.
Ogun: Limestone, Galena, Clay, Bentonite, Phosphate, Kaolin, Gemstones, Feldspar and Bitumen.
Ondo: Limestone, Crude Oil, Coal, Clay, Silica, Bentonite, Gypsum, Kaolin, Gemstones, Feldspar, Bitumen and Tar Sand.
Osun: Gold, Talc, Tantalite and Tourmaline.
Oyo: Dolomite, Clay, Talc, Mica, Quartzite, Marble, Kaolin, Gemstones and Laterite.
Plateau: Copper, Iron Ore, Gold, Zinc, Lead, Coal, Wolframite, Tungsten, Molybdenite, Bentonite, Marble, Kaolin, Uranium, Tin Ore, Columbite, Manganese, Barite, Gemstones and Gravel.
Rivers: Crude Oil and Marble.
Sokoto: Gold, Limestone, Clay, Salt, Phosphate and Gypsum.
Taraba: Lead, Zinc, Galena, Silver, Fluorite, Quartzite and Uranium.
Yobe: Dolomite and Talc.
Zamfara: Copper, Gold, Lead and Zinc.

Never has been [in the past few decades] a heightened level of tension all over the world like we are currently witnessing; people appear to be growing intolerant of one another as the ember of hostilities get fanned across different platforms. Plus, the word 'phobia' is even sometimes attached to some plain words to reflect the disposition of a particular group of persons towards another. In the Nigerian scenario where violence and/or upheavals are usually marked by religious and ethnical undertones, innocent individuals are sometimes seen or painted in bad light simply because of their religious or tribal affiliations. If you have been observing the trend on social media platforms, particularly as it regards issues of political significance or civil unrest, you must probably seen the degree of ill feelings behind some comments- on the average, one may see 1 in every ten comments reflecting such tendencies. Could all this be a sure sign of the times we are in. Jesus Christ did mention that lawlessness will abound in the last days, and because of this, the love of many will wax cold (Matthew 24:12); has this not become a norm these days? People hardly find any need to express love towards their neighbors just because of the ills in our society.

At this point, it will be ideal to ask: who exactly is your neighbor? - The Oxford dictionary describes the word 'neighbor' as 'a person who lives next to you or near you'. Jesus Christ however, raised the bar a little higher by pointing out that a neighbor is that very person that comes to the rescue of another (person) who is in need. This definitely takes neighborliness beyond a geographical residence; it brings neighborliness to the streets. And good neighborliness can therefore be said to be a core virtue that holds the societal framework together, and it is impossible to practice this without love.

Though love comes in varying degrees but it functions based on same principle. Throwing more light on this assertion: it is most likely that it is not the same measure of love you express towards your husband/wife or some other blood relatives that you will show to other individuals but [irrespective of whoever is on the receiving end], your actions will never put anyone in harm's way.

Well, one may not expect a group with a modus operandi like that of a terrorist group to reserve any dose of neighborliness or love in their subconscious but what about everyone who has got some degree of saneness and/or moral inclinations? There is a need for us to maintain peace so as to ensure healthy co-existence with one another- I must confess here that amidst the tensions all around, some persons seemed to have thrown the word 'peace' into the thrash bin. Again, expressing love towards one another [without giving any thought to colour, religion or tribe] will help us fight the common enemy that seeks to use our differences to create an 'irreparable' rupture among us.
To advance the course of nation-building, each and everyone of us has got to start making a commitment to love his/her neighbor as him-/her- self. Be mindful that the word 'neighbor' is not defined by religion or race.

The kitchen is a ‘factory’ everyone expects tasty delicacies to come out from but the truth remains that it’s not everyone that can stand the heat that emanates from there in the process of preparing meals. However, for those who take delight in cooking, entering the kitchen on a daily basis is not optional. While this article is not about the level of your culinary expertise, I must confess that cooking- and being in the kitchen- can be a really fun thing to do. It’s just about learning ways of doing things better and faster- and maybe uniquely; that’s why you should read on to get some tips on how you can ensure this.

Dealing with eggs
Egg test: If you are unsure about the state of the eggs you stock at home; simply fill a cup with water and drop the egg in the water. Stale eggs will stay afloat while good ones will sink to the bottom. The more it sinks, the fresher the egg is.

‘Yolk out’: To separate the yolk [of raw egg] from the egg white, just use a plastic bottle to suck it out. Gently press the bottle with your hand, letting air out, and point it at the yolk as you release your grip on the bottle.

Make hard-boiled egg peel easily: Add baking soda to the water used in boiling the egg, and you can be sure of having a smoothly peeled egg thereafter.

Hard-boiled with a different colour: Have you become so fond- or tired- of boiling eggs the same old way? Maybe it’s high time you did it differently: place the raw egg in a sleeve- shirt sleeve probably; close up both ends of the sleeve and vigorously swirl the egg over and again. After that, you can go ahead and boil the egg and see how it turns out- still healthy for consumption, though.

The perfect way to boil whole chicken
The sight of having unevenly cooked chicken can make for an ‘ugly’ sight at times; this usually happens because some parts of the chicken [like the drumstick and thigh] take longer period to get cooked while others like the breast cook faster. So, to ensure evenly cooked chicken, you should ice the breast before boiling.

Slice onions without tears
Place the onions in the freezer before slicing them should you want to avoid teary eyes. Or better still, chew gum while at it.

Get rid of excess fat
Sometimes, your instinct may fail you and add more than needed but thank goodness, there are corrective measures that can be taken. So, to remove excess fat from your food, drop lettuce leaf in it; the leaf attracts the fat and you can then take it out. Again, you can get rid of excess fat by using ice cube wrapped in a clean recyclable sandwich paper. The fat congeals upon the introduction of the ice pack and you can move to scoop it with the aid of a spoon.

De-salt your food
Still on making things right again; to extract excess salt from food, add peeled potato and about 2 cups of water and allow to seethe for about 3 minutes. Then, remove the potato and taste the food to ascertain the degree of saltiness.

Keep water from boiling over
To curtail the event of boiling water spilling onto the stove- or cooker- top, you should place a wooden spoon across the pot. The spoon absorbs the heat and also weakens the bubbles that come about as a result of boiling.

Keep things organized
As with any other room within the home; a cluttered or disorganized kitchen can be quite frustrating to work in. Therefore, it is important to keep utensils and other things used in the kitchen in their rightful place.

Multitask
If you can multitask in the office, you can do so in the kitchen too. In this wise, it is advisable that you do not leave cleaning until meal is ready; you can begin doing the cleanup [and setting things in order] while the food is being cooked.

Cook meals ahead
This requires that you plan out your meals before getting into the kitchen on one of those free weekends. Cooking your meals ahead will help you save valuable time in the course of the week and also ensure that you have healthy food available all week long. After cooking, the food can be stored in meal prep containers and then stored in the refrigerator.

The mule called ‘Boko Haram’
In his New Year broadcast, President Buhari restated the claim that Boko Haram has been defeated. While some Nigerians might have heaved a sigh of relief and even rejoiced on hearing that proclamation about Boko Haram’s defeat; others were skeptical about the supposed victory and those doubts turned out to be justified as news of the group’s incessant terror activities started rending the air- plus the approval of the withdrawal of a massive sum of US$1 billion from the excess crude account to fight insurgency did not do the government’s stance on victory over Boko Haram any good.

Boko Haram has since gone ahead to carry out a series of attacks: from the suicide bombing at a mosque in Gamboru to shootings at Kaje village and Madagali and the attack on a military post in Toumour, Niger state amongst other violent conducts, it is evident that the group’s onslaught is nowhere near ending. It is amidst of all these that we heard of the release of about 200 suspected Boko Haram members that were previously arrested by the Army. However, the one that has got everyone talking as the ghost of the Chibok girls’ ordeal haunts the nation again is the case of over a hundred and ninety-four female students of the Government Girls Secondary School in Dapchi, Yobe state. Like the case of the Chibok girls, this is also yet to be resolved even though we are hoping that these girls get their freedom in no distant time. All we are hearing for now are claims and counterclaims as the parents [of the affected students] have cut forlorn figures earnestly look out to be reunited with their children.

Delicate handling
Without undermining the efforts of the soldiers who are presently doing the nation a great service by going after Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa forest, it is important to point out here that the way with which the federal government –the past administration in particular- has handled the whole situation has been the reason why we are at a point where we are today; the handwriting has always been on the wall. One of the many flaws of the past administration was the lax attitude it had towards tackling the issue. Remember vividly how the group started causing menace by using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Now, the whole thing has escalated; Boko Haram members are found to be in possession of sophisticated weapons [like assault rifles, machine guns, armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft guns] , and are looking like monsters that hell has unleashed upon the inhabitants of the land. Though the present administration has fared better [than the last one] in some instances but it has really not done well in trying to cover up the true state of affairs concerning Boko Haram – propagandas will not take us anywhere in the fight against Boko Haram Insurgency; there is much more to be done.

Any end in sight?
Though the scars Boko Haram has left in the hearts of the families whose loved ones they have victimized may not be inerasable but this does not mean that those in the appropriate quarters should fold their hands; feeling helpless and leave the wound inflicted on the nation [by this terrorist group] to keep festering. Without any need relax the full weight of the military’s armoury should be put on the insurgents; it is necessary that Boko Haram be dealt with from the root. The very thing that the past administration – particularly in 2009- failed to do must be given consideration. Those who are the sponsors to this group must be fished out and dealt with without any fear or favour.

Museums in Nigeria
The rich vein of historical artifacts held up in a museum goes to show the heritage of a people, and tells of how deep they have dove into the ocean of civilization. For a country like Nigeria which comprises of various ethnic groups, the museums should well relate a great story of cultural fusion. A visit to one (museum) could evoke some pleasant memories about the vast cultural artifacts that bind a people together. So, let’s now see some of the museums we have in Nigeria:

National Museum, Esie
The Esie Museum is the first museum to be established in Nigeria in 1945. The establishment of the museum was made possible by British administrator and archaeologist, Kenneth C. Murray who had previously gone about collecting the Esie soapstone figures. Today, the Esie museum is unique for the large collection of soapstone it carries. The museum also boasts of some interesting cultural relics, archaeological sites along with some other artifacts that will make a tourist’s visit fulfilling.
LOCATION: Esie town, Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State.

National Museum, Jos
The national museum n Jos was established by British archaeologist and museum curator, Bernard Evelyn Buller Fagg in 1952. The museum was the first national to be constructed in Nigeria- the Esie museum was only renamed a national museum long after it had been set up. The national museum in Jos houses Nok terracotta heads as well as artifacts that date back to 500 B.C. Also on display are a variety of pottery wares and replicas of some ancient buildings.

National Museum, Onikan
The popular Onikan museum (as it is fondly called) is another museum founded by K.C. Murray. It is home to an ample of artifacts from Nok terracotta to Benin ivories and bronzes and terracotta from Igbo Ukwu, Ife and Benin amongst other cultural relics- and you may already know or heard- the Mercedes Benz in which erstwhile Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated can also be found there.
LOCATION: 2 JK Randle Street, Onikan, Lagos.

National Museum, Benin City
Benin art commands a lot of respect, and this may not be unconnected to the prominence of the Benin Empire. Some of the artworks are the things the national museum in Benin City has been preserving. Among the artifacts you will find there include royal regalia, terracotta, bronze and cast iron articles that were used in the Benin Empire. You will also find the bronze throne given to the Emperor by the Portuguese, royal plaques and shotguns used in the Ida war in the museum.
LOCATION: King’s Square, Benin City.

National War Museum, Umuahia
As the name already implies, the national war museum has in [and around] it relics from different warfare- the Nigerian civil war and traditional warfare. There are also certain pieces donated to the museum by other countries. On display are armored tanks, warships, Ogbunigwe (which were called Biafran bombs), charms, amulets and some other weapons of war. The museum was established in 1985.
LOCATION: Ebite Amafor, Isingwu Autonomous Community, Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State.

National Museum of Colonial History, Aba
For anyone who wishes to revisit the memories of Nigeria’s pre-independence years, a visit to the National Museum of Colonial History should be helpful. The museum was set up in 1985, and its collection includes [but not limited to] relics from slave trades, artifacts depicting the evolvement of Nigeria as a nation and a variety of traditional artworks.
LOCATION: 6, Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba, Abia State.

Oron Museum, Oron
Oron museum was established in 1958. It is known to hold over 500 wood carvings portraying the Ekpu- ancestral statuettes of the Oron people. Aside the Ekpu, you will also find the Ojukwu bunker which was used during the civil war plus pottery wares (traditionally called ‘Ishibori’) and the Ekpe.
LOCATION: 1, Oron Road, Oron, Akwa Ibom State.

Badagry Heritage Museum
Back in the 15th century down to the 1800’s, Badagry was the ‘haven’ of slave trade as it served as the route through which slaves were taken out of the country. While slave trade has since been abolished, a visit to the Badagry Heritage Museum could trigger some reflections on the ignominious activities that took place within the locality in time past. The museum carries an array of artifacts from slave trade documents to chains, padlocks, sketches and photos [depicting the event of the day back then] amongst other relevant relics.
LOCATION: Marina GRA Road, Boekoh Quarters District, Badagry.

Gidan Makama Museum, Kano
Gidan Makama Museum was opened in 1953, and the building which was built back in the 15th century is a sight of attraction on its own as it reflects the traditional architecture of the northerners. The pieces around the museum show the history of Kano city; some of these include: building materials used in ancient times, map of Kano city, Tsumburbura shrine, samples of farm implements and hunting gear, war instruments and several other artifacts. The portraits of Sardauna Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa and Nnamdi Azikwe can also be seen there.
LOCATION: Emir Palace Road, Kofar Dan Agudi, Kano State.

National Gallery of Modern Art
If you are about a place that reverberates with Nigerian arts then the National Gallery of Modern Art should get a mention as a befitting spot. The gallery qualifies as a museum since it holds an array of artworks from reputable Nigerian artists- some of whom we can called the pioneers of art in the country- like Bruce Onobrakpeya, Erhabor Emokpae, Ben Osawe, Gani Odutokun and a couple of others. It houses articles and/or artworks such as pottery wares, glass paintings, textiles bronze bust and so on. There are also portraits of Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ben Enwonwu and Hubert Ogunde within the gallery.
LOCATION: National Art Theatre, Iganmu, Orile, Lagos State.

OTHERS
Kanta Museum, Kebbi State
Collections/Spots of Interest: weapons, drums and royal tombs of the past Emirs of Kebbi State.

Owo Museum, Ondo State
Collections: traditional artworks, royal artifacts as well as artifacts from Benin and Ife kingdoms.

Calabar Museum, Cross River
Collections: relics from slave trade and many cultural artifacts.

Centre for Black and African Art and Civilization, Lagos
Collections: pieces used in FESTAC ’77; among which are figurines, sculptures, textiles and much more.

National Museum, Kaduna State
Collections: Ife sculptures, Benin bronzes, masks, terracotta figurines, replicas of buildings showing off traditional (Hausa) architecture.

National Museum, Port-Harcourt
Collections: Kalabari Alili, duien fubara, bronze, masks and masquerades, samples of instruments used for fishing, trading and farming in the Niger Delta, e.t.c.

National Museum, Abeokuta
Collections: relics from Egbaland and other artifacts from pre- and post- colonial times.

National Museum of Unity, Enugu State
Collections: memorial head of the Oba of Benin, bronze from Igbo Ukwu, Dakakari pottery, Ere Ibeji and some other cultural and historical artifacts.

Museum of Natural History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Collections: pieces of rocks, specimens of plants and animals and other artifacts of scientific significance.

Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture, Jos
Collections: replicas of buildings showing off traditional architecture from different ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Do note that the list above is not an exhaustive one; there are still a couple of museums that are run by government and private entities out there.

After the maiden participation at the Winter Olympics; What next?
Winter sport was never a Nigerian thing; this is partly due to the fact that nature has not always been generous enough to give us the enabling conditions for the sport, and whatever excitement winter sport fans may derive from watching athletes show off skills [in the numerous winter sports there are], football gave Nigerians aplenty. Though nature may have not smiled on us but we have been blessed with a passionate quartet- maybe we can afford to call them 'the fantastic four', anyway- that have got a brave heart to bring Nigeria to the limelight at the Winter Olympics. Voila! The green-white-green flag of Nigeria was hoisted in commemoration of the country's participation at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The bigger picture
As the competition came to a close, it behooves to ask: what next? On the part of the quartet, I perceive they will be aspiring to take their career in the winter sport events- bobsleigh and skeleton- they have come to love up another notch. However, the giant stride taken by these ladies should have already served as an eye-opener for Nigeria Olympic Committee. Maybe it's high time someone started thinking up the idea of setting up a Winter Sports Association in Nigeria with the aim of creating a platform for the sports to be practised here. I must confess that, considering the cost of winter sport and the lack of the enabling conditions, this will surely not be a mean feat to embark on- but if a quartet can come up with something notable within the space of two years then how much more a whole nation; it will only take a willing heart to succeed. Moreover, having faux snow or ice tracks constructed in areas of relatively low temperatures within the country will avail Nigerians the opportunity to go into the sport. Another possibility is that, with an association in place, it becomes easier to engage individuals of Nigerian descent who might have picked up an interest in one winter sport or the other. There could be others [like Seun Adigun and co] whose interest in winter sports might have been left out in the cold due to lack of support.
Nigeria's participation at the Winter Olympics should not be a one-off thing; we have to aim to be consistent at it but it will take the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Sports as well as Nigeria Olympic Committee not to allow the foundation that have been laid by our brave heroines to become a wasteland in the years ahead.
Neither gold nor silver they do not have to give us but what- a brave heart and an inspiration to those who love to dare the odds- they had, they did give unto us. Seun Adigun, Akuoma Omeoga, Ngozi Onwumere and Simidele Adeagbo will go down in history [and in the hearts of Nigerians] as the patriots who dared to go where other Nigerians never attempted to tread, and their trail has been impressed upon the snow and sands of Pyeongchang... So, over to you, NOC.

I have often heard people lament over how Nigerians are so religious but yet the country is still highly corrupt. They tend to relate the rate at which religious buildings are flooding everywhere to the high level of corruption observable in the country. And it even gets more puzzling to think that some nations adjudged to be among the least corrupt nations in the world do not have half the number of religious houses we have in Nigeria. For instance, New Zealand and Finland which rank first and third respectively in the Corruption Perception Index is reported to have less than 2,000 churches apiece.
Yes, of a truth, there are many churches and mosques all over the street of Nigeria, and it is apparent that it is the citizens of this nation that make up the core of those organization but before we continually and hastily flow along the path of drawing direct proportionality between the high rate of corrupt practices and the proliferation of religious organizations, it would be logical to ponder on some issues.
Firstly, without holding forth or trying to paint anyone 'bad'; there is a likelihood that clerics- talk about pastors, bishops, imams and so on- in some of these religious organizations are encouraging or influencing- whether directly or indirectly- their members to engage in activities that could register as being 'indecorous' after it's all been said and done.But then there's yet another possibility that individuals who engage in corrupt habits are only following the 'evil intention' of their heart. It is upon these premises that the topic of this discourse finds its foundation.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" and in another place; "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:3). From the foregoings, it is clear that God is particular about every individual heart, and that the heart needs to be worked on if one is to put his/her life in order. So, given that a man heard a message in the mold of cheating his way to get wealth; it will only take the desires of his heart for him to flow in the line of such message. On the other hand, I vehemently believe that there are religious organizations where the right way of living is preached but the members never take it (the message) to heart not to talk of taking it to the street or their places of work.
In essence, one can rightly posit that the heart is a 'treasure store' that gives out the things- either virtue or vice- it holds when acted upon by a 'stimulus'. That stimulus could be the message from the pulpit or the stubbornness- inactions/negligence- an individual decides to exercise at a given period of time. And the truth is that God really to reform the heart of man so that he (that is, man) can shine the light where darkness exist. That light is the very thing Nigeria needs in order to break free from the shackles of corruption. The light is however not shining because the heart of men- irrespective of their office or position- is drawn towards selfishness, dishonesty, greed and hatred.
As I bring this to a close; it is important to point out that the buildings- churches, mosques...you name it- are not really necessary; the heart is all that matters for it is upon it (the heart) that the right precepts, needed for nation-building, is laid.

Prevalence of chronic illnesses in Nigeria
According to Wikipedia: "A chronic condition is a human health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects or a disease that comes with time. The term 'chronic' is often applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months". Chronic diseases are usually categorized as Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) since they cannot be transmitted from one person to another. Some common examples of chronic diseases include diabetes, arthritis, cancers, chronic respiratory disorder, kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases (such as stroke, hypertension, coronary artery disease, etc) and so on.

Chronic diseases are known to affect the functioning of different body parts or organs- localized or otherwise- and could result in mortality when in advanced stage. They have been implicated in a considerably high number of deaths; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 70% of deaths recorded globally are as a result of one chronic illness or another.

Statistics of chronic diseases in Nigeria
In recent years, there has been a rise in the cases of chronic illnesses recorded in Nigeria. There is rarely anyone who has not been affected- either directly or indirectly- by illnesses such as heart attacks, cancers and kidney failures.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report on Nigeria in 2014, the mortality rate from NCDs stands at 24%. A breakdown of this, shows the following trend:
Cardiovascular diseases: 7%
Cancers: 3%
Diabetes: 2%
Chronic respiratory diseases: 1%
Other NCDs: 11%

Risk factors
The risk factors that contribute to incidences and/or increased rate of chronic illnesses revolve around lifestyle and diet.

Lifestyle
At the thought of lifestyle [in relation to chronic diseases], it is quite easy to quickly pin this group of diseases to social lifestyle- whereby one streamlines it to individuals who indulge in heavy alcohol consumption, smoking and so on. But then, it has to be said that the kind of lifestyle that can serve as catalyst for the emergence of chronic illnesses also encompasses the emotional and occupational aspects [of life]. Take for instance, an average Nigerian worker spends most of his day at work, probably sitting at a particular spot for a long period of time; this could open such a person to a chronic illness as time goes by. In short, whatever lifestyle that consistently causes stress on your organs [and body] can eventually lead to a chronic condition. On the other extreme, an individual who lives a sedentary life is yet prone to illnesses such as obesity and heart-related diseases.

Diet
The food we take in is another critical thing to consider when taking the prevalence of NCDs into account. Unhealthy dietary trend can trigger the emergence of heart disorders, kidney failure, arthritis, cancer and so on. This trend borders on consuming foods that are hazardous to human health and also failing to eat a balanced diet.
And while food eating can be seen as a deliberate act; I will like to posit that diet is about 'everything' that goes into the human system. Therefore, I wish to point out that there are a whole lot of substances that find their ways into our body while we are on the go- some examples include the smoke emitted into the surrounding from vehicle's exhaust and the hydrocarbons one (who may not even be a smoker) might inhale while standing close to a smoker.

Chronic illnesses have really become a plague world over, and it is only wise that we make attempts towards fighting off their prevalence. In the days ahead, I hope to discuss the preventive measures that can be taken towards ensuring that one is not victimized by this scourge.